I actually like the foundation of your idea. Problem is that Indy isn't giving you these guys because they'll try and compete one last year (upon P George's injury comeback) before West and Hibbert expire. Both West and Hibbert's contracts are player options at the end of this upcoming season, and there's basically zero chance they opt out. If they were expiring deals this would be an opportunity considering the Pacers have been supposedly shopping Hibbert- perhaps they still are so this may still work.
The bad news for us is that the extra time on their contracts gives the Pacers leverage. For the Pacers the only way they entertain the idea would be asking for Sullinger or Olynyk to replace David West and multiple picks. This way they clear both Hibbert and West off the books for expirings and have an extra $27 million to play with when Paul George returns from injury.
I do think that a squad of:
Rondo
Bradley
Green
West
Hibbert
Smart
Turner
Olynk
Zeller
Vitor F
Wallace
Pressey
is probably a top 3 or 4 team in the East. It would be a pretty serious defensive team too- at least the starting line up would be.
To get Hibbert+basic fillers you'd have to send at least:
2015 Boston first round pick+
2016 Brooklyn pick +
James Young+
Bogans $5 million+
Thornton $8.5 million
This would be if they REALLY want to move Hibbert. I mean if they really demanded it they'd have the right to ask for Marcus Smart too instead of 2 of those picks.
To get West too? I think you need to give them Sullinger or Olynyk as the minimum and then match salary with Bass+Anthony. I'd prefer to give them Olynyk while his hype is high and let Sullinger develop as the 6th man while he learns from his on court doppleganger David West.
So you'd look at a complete package of:
Sullinger (or Olynyk)
James Young+
2015 Boston first round pick+
2016 Brooklyn pick +
2015 Clippers pick+
Bogans $5 million+ (exp)
Thornton $8.5 million+ (exp)
Bass $7 million+(exp)
Anthony $3 million(exp)
for
Hibbert+
West+
fillers.
When you take out the expirings and fillers you're essentially getting Hibbert+West for Sullinger, Young and 3 first round picks. Hell you'd probably have to include another Brooklyn pick with some light protection for them to even pick up the phone.
In all honesty I think Danny pulls the trigger 100% of the time in such a scenario.
We'd be making a push for the playoffs and essentially trying to lure some free agents for the next two years with this core.
A wildcard would also be how interested they are in Evan Turner now that Lance Stephenson is gone AND George is out. They could put Thornton and Turner in as the starting SF/SG tandem and roll with:
Hill, Thornton, Turner, Sullinger, Mahinimi for one season and have Hibbert and West's $15 million+$12 million off the books a year earlier.
The fact is that even picking up the phone to ring the Pacers about a deal for Hibbert revolves around the Pacers legitimately wanting to move him out because Paul George+coach don't want him there, and regardless of how much they find him annoying, he's still one of the leagues elite rim protectors and a force on defense. If they think they can work with Hibbert then they aren't picking up the phone for anything less than the above offer PLUS Marcus Smart. Just the reality of the situation.
Topic: Pacers Blow It Up/Dream Scenario.... Would you do it? (Read 7421 times)